Not as sharp as I want it.

Sat Feb 15, 2014 4:33 pm

Hi Mark,

I've been sharpening my Mac chefs' knife with my edgepro at 15 degrees, but seem unable to get as sharp an edge or as long lasting one as originally came with the knife. Any suggestions? Is 15 degrees the correct angle for this knife?

Re: Not as sharp as I want it.

Sun Feb 16, 2014 12:19 am

Welcome to the forum Gerry. There's a lot of knowledge here. As Mark said, explain your routine so we can get a better handle on what seems to be going wrong.

As far as the angle you're sharpening at (15°) , if you're using the angle cube to set the angle, taking the 3°-4° of the knife, you're putting on a 13°-13.5° edge on so you won't be getting a long lasting edge. I'd suggest setting the angle at 18°-19° for a true 16°-17.5° and see how that works out for you. Also use very light strokes to reduce the burr then as you finish lift up on the arm a bit and you'll reduce it even more.

Re: Not as sharp as I want it.

Sun Feb 23, 2014 12:22 pm

On my Yoshida Vg10 gyuto i did it on 18° by recomendation by Ben so you get 16°.I use only 1000 EP stock stone whit whery light strokesand polish tapes and that did it just fine.Nothing else to do.I finish that in 2 minutes.

If i did that on Japanese whater stone i think that I whoud change edge so whit EP did stay like it comes to me.

Re: Not as sharp as I want it.

i had this problem also, I though it was a burr issue but i wasn't sure,

I bought the 60X mini micro scope they sell on this sight..... and i was RIGHT, I was not getting the burr off the knife!

I also got the stop collar, what i do is set the angle with my FINSH stone, place the stop color on, and evey ston change i lift the arm set stone on stop color and set arm down on it, this keeps your angle from stone to stone 1!!

both of those only cost about $10 and will help a ton

I also suggest the magnet for the table.

make very light passes on the 1000, i do about 5 extremely light passes (pushing to edge) on each side to get the burr, you can also raise 2-3 degrees and then do the above to really knock the burr off

Re: Not as sharp as I want it.

Mon Feb 24, 2014 9:08 pm

no need to use low grit stones on that kind knifes,why to destroy knife?1000 EP stock stone+polish tapessometimes it will be need to use only polish tapes to re-sharpen and rearly stone and that all only whit whery light strikes.on 200$ knife to use low grit stone?I think not..

Re: Not as sharp as I want it.

Tue Feb 25, 2014 6:34 am

Gerry..

Your most important stone is the 1st stone, and yes it should be lower than 1000 grit. You can polish a turd all day, but at the end of the day it's still a turd. You need to get a burr and you will spend a lot of time generating a burr with a 1000 grit stone if your knives a dull. The 1000 will work for awhile but you will need to re-profile the primary and secondary bevel eventually.